Published 01/30/2023, 10:19 AM EST
Controversial, divisive, and criticized. These aren’t typically the words any NASCAR insider, fan, or expert co-relates with someone like Kyle Larson. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is a pretty good sport off the track, and on the track, the way he races his others cleanly is given examples of.
But then again, there are exceptions.
Exceptions that came to the surface a little more than Larson’s fans and the driver himself would’ve liked.
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The thing is, in 2022, the 2021 Cup Series champion found himself in a lot of tangles, incidents, and contact with other drivers on the track that attracted some flak his way. And although he clarified, justified, or apologized for what happened whenever it did, it seems like Brett Griffin, the spotter of Justin Haley, is still mad at Yung Money.
Brett Griffin is still mad at Kyle Larson
Right at the start of the 2022 season, in the Clash at the Coliseum, Kyle Larson lost his cool and wrecked Justin Haley for what he thought was a payback. Except it wasn’t.
But Haley was wrecked by the time the realization hit Larson.
This was almost a year ago. But Haley’s spotter is still angry with Larson for what he did, as his recent comments suggested.
“That Coliseum has so much history and I was so excited about it, and then we got in there and we raced like a bunch of idiots. We legitimately raced like a bunch of a**holes,” Griffin said. “If somebody bumps you, the next corner they take them completely out.”
“I’m still mad (Kyle) Larson took Justin Haley out for no reason. Because we got hit from behind by William Byron, but you talk about a give-and-take race? That was the opposite of that.”
CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 08: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, speaks with his crew on the grid during practice for NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 08, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
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Griffin hopes Larson and other drivers are a bit careful at the Clash this year
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Having expressed his frustration with the Hendrick Motorsports driver, the spotter went on to describe his hopes with Larson and the others who will take the field when the green flag drops at the historical venue.
“I hope that this year, given the fact that these guys know about these concussions, they know this car is different, we don’t know what’s gonna do when it wrecks. I know we want it to be safer, but I’m curious to see if we go to the LA Clash and we actually race like we’ve got some sense,” Griffin explained.
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“Because last year? We didn’t.”